what is safe honour sequence leading against no trumps

[nospam]

On this website, Richard Pavlicek lists choice number 2 as a safe
honour sequence
http://www.rpbridge.net/4g00.htm

<quote>
1. Five-card or longer suit
2. Safe honor sequence
3. Four cards without ace or king
4. Worthless three cards
5. Worthless doubleton
6. Unsafe honor sequence
7. Four cards with ace or king
</>

In example number 1, J10 doubleton is preferred over J952. Does this
mean J10 is regarded as a safe honour sequence - what is meant by
safe honour sequence here?

In example number 2, J103 is third choice after 64 spades - is J103
an unsafe honour sequence?

[Barry Margolin]

In article <u080dal2eggju63jv...@4ax.com>,

An honor sequence is "safe" if leading it isn't likely to give away a
trick.

JT doubleton isn't likely to take any tricks by itself. If partner has
length there, leading it can start setting them up. If not, you're just
giving declarer tricks he would have gotten anyway.

JTx, on the other hand, is more likely to take tricks if declarer or
partner leads up to it. Leading away from it could blow that.

The safest honor sequence is one that's 3 or more cards long.

--
Barry Margolin
Arlington, MA

[paul...@infi.net]

In an unbid suit, a three-card sequence headed by an honor is likely to be safe: KQJ(x), QJ10(x), J109(x), 1098(x). Note that 987 is not considered a sequence as it is not headed by an honor, but of course that would be a better suit to lead than 963.

In a suit the opponents have bid, you'd need a four-card sequence to be considered "safe", and in fact it is normal to lead low from something like QJ104, hoping partner has the A, K, or 9.